System and method for locating available parking spaces

Abstract

This application is directed to a system and method for locating parking spaces. A user can enter the desired location for parking and the application will transmit the information to a parking information database server. The server will return the location of parking spaces and probability of space availability. In addition, the database includes detailed parking information to include price, hours, and any special restrictions. These results can be depicted as a list or graphically displayed on a street map, satellite map or hybrid map views. Filters can be applied to find a specific type of parking available. The application provides real-time availability information in areas where the infrastructure to generate such data is available via sources such as on-street sensors or parking lot barrier systems. The system uses various secondary information to adjust historical observations of space availability in order to make provide accurate space predictions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for locating parking spaces implemented on a processor, comprising:
 transmitting via an electronic device a requested location where parking is desired to a database server over a communication medium; 
 calculating on the processor a probable parking space location in a vicinity of the requested location based on calculation of a change in speed of a source of a plurality of floating cellular data stored in a database electronically connected to the database server, wherein the floating cellular data captures an arrival and a departure of vehicles from the requested location based on the calculation of the change of speed of the source of the plurality of cellular signals to differentiate between pedestrian and vehicle movement; and 
 transmitting to the electronic device the location and probability of a parking space over the communication medium. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the requested location for parking is entered and transmitted from a portable electronic device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probable parking space locations are depicted on an electronic depiction of a street map. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database server refines predictions of parking space availability based on a plurality of floating car data that captures vehicle movement information from vehicles driving around the requested location looking for a space. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database server refines predictions of parking availability trends for the requested location based on historical parking space counts collected throughout a selected day and extrapolates future availability based on said trends. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the database server adjusts predictions of real-time parking space availability from the historical availability trends using inputs including current day of the week, month, time of the day, weather, state of the public transport system, planned events, real-time availability in adjacent parking lots and streets, real-time parking payment transactions, real-time Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) transactions, real-time traffic and floating car data, real-time imagery (satellite or camera-based), real-time space availability as reported by parking enforcement systems, real-time space availability as reported by a user. 
     
     
       7. A computer implemented method suitable for implementation on a processor comprising:
 transmitting via an electronic device a requested location where parking is desired to a database server over a communication medium; 
 calculating on the processor a probable parking space location in a vicinity of the requested location based on calculation of a change in speed of a source of a plurality of floating cellular data stored in a database electronically connected to the database server, wherein the floating cellular data captures an arrival and a departure of vehicles from the requested location based on the calculation of the change of speed of the source of the plurality of cellular signals to differentiate between pedestrian and vehicle movement; and 
 transmitting the location and probability of a parking space over the communication medium to the electronic device wherein said transmitting and calculating is performed by a processor. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the requested location for parking is entered and transmitted from a portable electronic device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the probable parking space locations are depicted on an electronic depiction of a street map. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the database server refines predictions of parking space availability based on a plurality of floating car data that captures vehicle movement information from vehicles driving around the requested location looking for a space. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the database server refines predictions of parking availability trends for the requested location based on historical parking space counts collected throughout a selected day and extrapolates future availability based on said trends. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the database server adjusts predictions of real-time parking space availability from the historical availability trends using inputs including current day of the week, month, time of the day, weather, state of the public transport system, planned events, real-time availability in adjacent parking lots and streets, real-time parking payment transactions, real-time Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) transactions, real-time traffic and floating car data, real-time imagery (satellite or camera-based), real-time space availability as reported by parking enforcement systems, real-time space availability as reported by a user. 
     
     
       13. A system for locating parking spaces, comprising:
 an electronic device in communication with a database server, the database server connected to a database, wherein the database server is capable of predicting parking space information for an area based on information stored in the database; 
 wherein the database server predicts parking space availability based on calculation of a change in speed of a source of a plurality of floating cellular data, wherein said floating cellular data captures the arrival and departure of vehicles from the requested location based on the calculation of the change of speed of the source of the plurality cellular signals to indicate pedestrian versus vehicle movement; 
 wherein the database contains a plurality of parking space data and the parking space availability is transmitted to the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the electronic device is incorporated into a vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the database server refines predictions of parking space availability from analysis of a plurality of floating car data that captures vehicle movement information from vehicles driving around a block looking for a space. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the database server refines predictions of parking availability trends for the requested location based on historical parking space counts collected throughout a selected day and extrapolates future availability based on said trends. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the database server makes real-time parking space availability adjustments to the historical availability trends using inputs including current day of the week, month, time of the day, weather, state of the public transport system, planned events, real-time availability in adjacent parking lots and streets, real-time parking payment transactions, real-time Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) transactions, real-time traffic and floating car data, real-time imagery (satellite or camera-based), real-time space availability as reported by parking enforcement systems, real-time space availability as reported by a user.